Shoe-polishing machine.



G. F. GREEN.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1912. RENEWED JULY 9, 1913.

1,( )86;O43. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEE S-SHEET 1.

G. F. GREEN.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011-4, 1912. RENEWED JULY 9, 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I alifozuw 4 G. F. GREEN.

. SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION EILEE 00T.14,-1912. RENEWED JULY 9, 1913.

1,086,043. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1 (D m 0m (9 WA I b I IIHIIUIIIIHHHIH lllllllllllllll] I 9 Q m Kk 3 N n N a it a awwemtoz 1 axi g Mao w f g Q M P/EE UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

GEORGE F. GREEN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASS-IGNOR. TO INTERNATIONAL MACHINE CORPORATION, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A. CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

SHOE-POLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed October 14, 1912, Serial No. 725,713. Renewed July 9, 1913. Serial No. 778,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. GREEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Polishing Machines; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of my invention selected by me for the purpose of illustrating the same, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims. I

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a shoe polishing machine, with my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged'detail view of the upper part of one of the brush carriages and the paste applying brush carried thereby and showing on an enlarged scale the embodiment of my invention selected for purposes of illustration. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2 looking at the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of'Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of the paste distributing nozzle.

My invention relates particularly to that class of shoe polishing machines in which a plurality of rotary brushes are moved around the shoe while it is rested on a stationary support, to clean and polish the shoe and it consists in means for applying a polishing paste to one of the brushes of the series, at the proper time in the cycle of the machine and for insuring a uniform and automatic. feed or supply of paste to the brush.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an embodiment of my invention especially adapted for use with a machine of the type illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,024,589 granted April 30, 1912 to W. H. McConnell and I have shown so much of the said machinev as 'is necessary for a complete understanding of my invention. I do not limit myself, how.-

ever, to the application of my. invention to the specific machine herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 represents the'bed' plate of the machine frame which is provided with two horizontal track frames 4 and 5 carrying endless track rails 4 and 5 respectively, upon which are mounted a plurality of brush carriages,

three of which are shown in Fig. 1. Between the track frames is arranged a horizontal sprocket chain '8 passing around a 'front sprocket wheel 9 on a vertical shaft 10 and a rear driving sprocket 11 on a verfor guiding the carriage around the, shoe' I support. Within the bearing sleeve 21 is a rotatable sleeve, 30 the lower end of which carries a sprocket wheel 62 engaging the chain 13 for imparting rotary motion to the sleeve 30. A vertically movable shaft 33 extends through the sleeve 30 and is connected for rotation therewith, as by a key 34 and the upper end ofsaid shaft carries a yoke or head block 36, loosely mounted thereon and a beveled pinion 38 rigidly secured to the shaft.

To the'head block is secured a tilting brush carrier 42-by means of a horizontal pivot 43, said brush carrier supporting a rotary brush B the lower end of the brush shaft being provided with a miter gear 48 connected by a miter gear 49 on the pivot pin 43, with the miter gear 38 on the shaft 33. The brush is held normally in vertical position, in this instance by means of an arm 53'secured to the brush carrier, and connected by a link 55, to the carriage the lower end of the link being slotted to engage a pin on the carriage and a spring 58 being connected to thecarriage and to the link 55 (or to the arm 53). By raisin the vertical shaft 33 in the carriage the rush carrier will be caused to tilt toward the 'shoe support securing the successive operation of the carand is brought into a substantially hori-' 'zontal position as it passes over the toe portion thereof, and this is accomplished in the present instance by providing a suitable cam track 1 extending around the front portion of the machine and below the lower track support, and having suitable grades on its upper face to be engaged by an anti-friction ball, or device at the lower end'of the shaft 33 of each carriage. Motion is imparted to the sprocket chains 8 and 13 in any desired manner from a suitable motor M. The head block and brush carrier of each carriage is prevented from turning with respect to this carriage, in this instance by means of a guide bar 40 passing through guiding recesses or apertures in the flanges of the carriage and being secured at its upper end to the head block 36. Suitable liquids may be supplied to certain of the brushes or in any other. way for cleaning and polishing the shoes to be treated.

Any desired means can be employed for riages. In the drawings bumpers 60 are placed between the carriages, the same consisting of a frame similar to the sleeve 21 of thecarriage and having means for engaging the track rails, but carrying no mechanism.

Each carriage is propelled separately around the forward portion of the track rails, (around the shoe support) by its engagement with chain 8 and as it reaches the end of its travel under the influence of the chain, the bumper preceding it will strike the next carriage, pushing all the bumpers and car riages around the dead portion of the track rails and forcing the next carriage into position to be engaged and propelled by the chain 8. The previously described devices form no part of my invention in their specific construction, and they will not, therefore, be more particularly described.

My invention as before stated relates to means for supplying a paste or semi-liquid to one of the rotary brushes, for either cleaning or polishing purposes, but usually for the latter, and my improved devices may be used either in conjunction with or without means for delivering certain liquids, in any desired way, to certain other of the brushes, to which my invention has no relation.

In carrying out my invention, in the embodiment thereof selected by me for purposes of illustration I employ a receptacle 200 for holding the paste or semi-liquid dressing, which receptacle is preferably cylindrical and is provided with means for forcibly discharging the contentstherefrom. The receptacle is here shown as secured rigidly to the head block 36 by means of suitable bands 201 secured to a bracket 202 bolted to the head block, and within the receptacle or casingis located a piston 203, pronuances vided with a threaded piston rod 204: extending through an aperture in one end of the casing.

205 represents a nut provided with peripheral ratchet teeth, mounted 011 the piston rod, within a lateral retaining guide 206, so that the rotation of the nut will move the piston in the cylinder. The guide 206 is provided with a spring locking pawl 207 enportion of the guide is a vertically movable ratchet bar 208, the teeth of which are so constructed as to actuate the ratchet nut when the head block and casing 200 are around the shoe support, the lower end of the ratchet bar being. connected with a bracket 209 connected in turn to the flange 22 of the brush carriage 21. Sufficient room is provided in the guide 206, to permit the teeth of the ratchet bar to slip over those of the nut 205 on the descent of the brush carrier, and the ratchet bar may be held in proper engagement with the ratchet nut by a spring 210.

The end of the casing 200 opposite the pis ton is provided with a discharge spout 211 connected to 'a delivery nozzle 212 of peculiar construction carried by the brush carrier, and as the brush carrier is pivotally that a pivotal joint shall be provided, in the discharge spout 211, the axis of which is in .alinement with the axis of the pivot shaft 43,

ing the discharge spout 211 into a position concentric with the shaft 43, and connecting the lower end of the nozzle 2l2'thereto by a swivel joint 213-, the parts being held together by a pivot bolt 214, (see Fig. 5).

The discharge nozzle 212 is supported vertically adjacent to the periphery of the brush B and is provided on the side nearest the ably in the form of horizontal slits, as shown, through which the paste or semi-liquid is forced directly upon the periphery of the brush. A curved guard 215 surrounds as much of the brush as possible, without interfering with the operation thereof, in wiping contact therewith and prevents the paste from flying 0d of the brush before it reaches the shoe and assists in distributing it evenly on the periphery of the brush. In this instance the guard 215 is supported from the brush carrier by arms 225, and the nozzle 212 is secured to and supported by the guard, parallel to the axis of the brush B.

As the brushcarriage provided with my invention is brought into operation and caused to travel around the shoe support, the head block and brush will be slightly raised by the cam I just asthe brush approaches the heel of the shoe support, causing (through the ratchet bar, ratchet nut and raised by the action of cam 1 in passing connected with the head block, it is necessary as shown. I accomplish this result by bendgaging the ratchet nut 205, and within a brush with a plurality of apertures prefen piston) a feed of the paste to the brush, which will thus be tilted forward (through the operation of link 55 53) carrying with it applying the paste to the rear of the heel of the shoe on the shoe support. The brush and head block are then lowered by the cam grade as (Fig. 1) thus causing the ratchet bar to descend and the ade 3 will again raise the head block and simultaneously force a small additional quantity of paste on to the brush. The grade 2 leading to the front of the machine is of greater extent, and this lifts the head block a considerable distance, causing the brush to tilt into a nearly horizontal position, as it passes over the toe, and at the same time a considerably larger quantity of the paste is fed to the brush, as it is particularly desirable to have it applied thoroughly to the toe portionof the shoe. The inner side of the shoe will also be moistened with the paste as the brush passes rearwardly and assumes again a vertical position, the cam 1 extending around the shoe support for this purpose.

It will be noted that the paste or material is not fed to the brush once, before it reaches the heel, as in such case a sufficient amount of pastewould not be applied to the toe but on the contrary a small amount is applied at the heel, another small amount in the center of each side, and the greatest amount is applied to the brush when it is passing over the toe of the shoe. Hence the paste is applied to the shoe in the proper quantity, and being supplied as needed it is carried by the brush directly to the surface of the shoe and is not thrown off or wasted. In order to prevent injury to the mechanism, I prefer to provide an alarm, so that the attendant or operator will be notified when the paste receptacle is empty. For example, I have shown fixed and movable contacts 216, 217 on the guide 206 (in Fig. 2) and a projection 218 on the end of the piston to engage the movable contact and close an electric circuit, so as to ring a bell (not shown) or to otherwise notify the operator or attendant, when the piston reaches almost its innermost position. Additional paste can be inserted by turning the nut so as to withdraw the piston to its first position and inserting the fresh supply of paste through the filling aperture 219 which is normally closed by a cap 220.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. In a shoe polishing machine the combination with a shoe support, of a traveling brush carriage, a brush carried thereby and movable-with respect thereto, apaste receptacle movable with said carriage and having a discharge in operative relation with said brush, and means operative by movements spring 58 and arm the nozzle 212, and.

of the brush for. forcing paste from the receptacle on to the brush.

.2. In a shoe polishing machine, the com-- bination with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable aroundsaid shoe support, a tilting brush carrier, mounted on said carriage and a rotary brush carried by said 3. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination 'with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable around said support, a vertically movable and laterally tilting brush carrier on said carriage, and a rotary brush supported by said brush carrier, of a paste receptacle movable vertically with said carrier, and provided with a discharge nozzle, adjacent to the brush and movable therewith, a feed mechanism for said receptacle, and operating means for said feed mechanism actuated by the vertical movements of said brush.

4. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable around the same, a vertically laterally tilting brush carrier, connected to said vertically movable part, and a rotary brush mounted in said brush carrier, of a paste receptacle carried by said vertically movable part, a discharge nozzle connected therewith and located adjacent to the brush, feed mechanism for said receptacle and an actuating connection from said feed mechanism to said carriage for operating the feed mechanism by the vertical movements of the said vertically movable part.

5, In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable around the same, a vertically movable part mounted in said carriage, a laterally tilting brush carrier mounted on said vertically movable part, connections between the brush carrier and the carriage for tilting the brush carrier by the vertical movement thereof, and a rotary brush mounted in said brush carrier, of a paste receptacle carried by said vertically movable part, a discharge nozzle therefor held in fixed relation with the brush, a feed mechanism for saidrecepfor tilting the brush carrier by the vertical movement thereof, and a rotary brush mounted in said brush carrier, of a paste receptac'le carried by said vertically movable part, a discharge nozzle therefor held in fixed relation with the brush, a .feed piston in said receptacle, mechanism for advancing said piston including a ratchet wheel, and a ratchet bar engaging said wheel and connected with the carriage.

7. In a shoe polishing machine, the com.- bination with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable around the same, a vertically movable part mounted in said carriage, a laterally tilting brush carrier mounted on said vertically movable part, connections between the brush carrier and the carriage for tilting the brush carrier by the vertical movement thereof, and a rotary brush mounted in said brush carrier, of a paste receptacle carried by said vertically movable part, a discharge nozzle therefor held in fixed, relation with the brush, a discharge spout for said receptacle having a pivotal connection with said nozzle, a piston in said receptacle, feed mechanism for said piston including a threaded piston rod, and a (ratchet nut engaging the same, and a ratchet bar engaging said ratchet nut and having one end connected with said carriage.

8. In a shoe polishing machine, the com-.

bination with a .shoe support, a brush carriage movable around the same, arotary tilting brush carried thereby, a paste receptacle carried by said carriage, a discharge nozzle therefor having a. fixed relation withthe brush, feeding mechanismfor said receptacle brought into operation conjointly with movements of the brush, mechanism for tiltrosaoaa ing said brush, including a cam engaging part, and a cam rail arranged adjacent to said shoe support, and provided with a plurality of cam grades, for tilting said brush and simultaneously causing a plurality of actuations of the paste feeding mechanism during the movement of the brush carriage "around the shoe sup-port.

'9. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a shoe support, a brush carri'age movable around the same, a rotary brush carried thereby, of a paste receptacle carried ,by said carriage, a discharge nozzle therefor adjacent to said brush, a feed mechanism for said paste receptacle, and means for 'impartinga plurality of actuations to said feeding mechanism during the passage of the brush carriage around said shoe support.

10. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a shoe support, a brush carriage movable around the same, a rotary brush carried thereby, of a aste receptacle carried by said carriage, a ischarge nozzle therefor adjacent to said brush, a feed mechanism for said paste receptacle, and a guard extending in wiping contact entirely around the brush except that portion adjacent to the shoe, to prevent the paste from being thrown off b the brush and assist in distributing it even y on the brush. 1 I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. GREEN.

Witnesses I JASIB. MoCoMn, J. B. HU'rcHINsoN. 

